The long stretch of pitched tents and open lawn chairs faithfully forms up to the box office of Central Park’s Delacorte Theatre during the summer months. A beloved New York City tradition since 1954, thousands of locals and tourists diligently wait for hours, sometimes overnight, to enjoy free, top-notch Shakespearean plays outside on breezy summer nights, some wearing their “I Love New York” T-shirts.
This year, The Public Theatre opened Shakespeare in the Park 2010 on Wednesday, June 30, with The Merchant of Venice, directed by Daniel Sullivan (See our review), and on Thursday, July 1, with The Winter’s Tale, directed by Michael Greif. Both shows will play in repertory through Sunday, August 1.
The Winter’s Tale is Shakespeare’s classic story of how a king’s paranoid jealousy destroyed his entire family; but with a 16-year redemption and the guiding direction of some offbeat, comedic characters, he somehow finds a happily-ever-after for all.
The play opens to Polixeness (Jesse L. Martin), King of Bohemia, paying a visit to his longtime childhood friend Leontes (Ruben Santiago-Hudson), King of Sicilia. After Leontes irrationally assumes an affair between Polixeness and his pregnant wife, Hermione (Linda Emond), he tries to poison Polixeness, who barely escapes with his life back to Bohemia. Leontes ends up alone and heartbroken after his false accusation leaves his beloved wife and son dead, and his newly born daughter, Perdita (Heather Lind), abandoned in Bohemia. Perdita, unaware of her royal lineage, is raised by a Shepherd (Max Wright) and his oafish son, Clown (Jesse Tyler Ferguson). She falls in love with Florizel (Francois Battiste), the Prince of Bohemia and Polixeness’ son. After their romance is revealed, the couple flees to Sicilia against the king’s will, and everyone’s return to the play’s original setting leads to a joyful reconciliation.
The characters are beautifully acted by theatre veterans and familiar TV faces, such as Jesse L. Martin (Law & Order, Ally McBeal) and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family, Ugly Betty), the latter using a wide range of physical humor to garner laughs as the buffoonish character Clown. Most of the comic relief also comes from Autolycus (Hamish Linklater), the conniving peddler and pickpocket who sings, steals and sleeps his way through life.
Another seasoned pro, Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Without a Trace, Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations), plays the outspoken Paulina, a Sicilian noblewoman and fierce defender of Hermione’s honor. With tears and passionately delivered lines, she intensifies the guilt that Leontes feels for the loss of his family. Heather Lind, part of the NYU Graduate Acting Class of 2010, also makes a successful Public Theatre debut as a lively Perdita.
Original music is by Tom Kitt, and a sole string instrument or piano is frequently played during dramatic dialogue. The costume design by Clint Ramos has lead male characters dressed in lavish, Asian-inspired robes with detailed patterns and gold trims, and female characters are outfitted in Grecian dresses, all with flowing fabric.
The scenic design by Mark Wendland (also The Merchant Of Venice) is minimal but effective. The Delacorte’s circular stage is mostly bare, with the exception of a few fire pits, oriental rugs, fruit bowls and wine glasses. A giant glass wall lifts up-and-down for separation and changes in setting, and the chorus dances around stage with movable bird puppets to aid in the visual story telling.
The inter-changing partnership of both comedy and drama, and the random tie-ins of a prophecy-telling oracle and a man-eating bear, lends to the play’s appeal. The flow of the story is best described by the lines: “To what we wildly do, so we profess. Ourselves to be the slaves of chance, and flies. Of every wind that blows.” As much in reality as in theatre, the characters go after their desires ardently, act rashly, and the circumstances they are flung in drive their lives.
Director Michael Greif also directed the 2007 Shakespeare in the Park revival of Romeo and Juliet at The Public, and his other recent work includes Next to Normal and Grey Gardens on Broadway. Other credits include Jonathan Larson’s Rent (Obie Award, Tony nomination) and Next to Normal (Tony nomination).
The Public Theatre (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Executive Director) was founded by Joseph Papp in 1954 with the mandate to provide theatre to all N
ew Yorkers. The full list of the 2010 repertory company for both The Winter’s Tale and The Merchant of Venice includes: Gerry Bamman (Antigonus/Duke of Venice), Francois Battiste (Florizel/Lord/Salerio), Linda Emond (Hermione), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Young Shepherd/Lord/Launcelot Gobbo), Bill Heck (Lord/Lorenzo), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Paulina/Nerissa), Byron Jennings (Camillo/Antonio), Heather Lind (Perdita/Jessica), Hamish Linklater (Autolycus/Lord/Bassanio), Jesse L. Martin (Polixenes/Gratiano), Nyambi Nyambi (Lord/Prince of Morocco), Al Pacino (Shylock), Lily Rabe (Portia), Matthew Rauch (Dion/Jailer/Solanio), Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Leontes), Richard Topol (Lord/Tubal) and Max Wright (Old Shepherd/Prince of Arragon).
The summer’s non-Equity ensemble features Happy Anderson, Liza J. Bennett, Tyler Caffall, Cary Donaldson, Luke Forbes, Bryce Gill, Shalita Grant, Jade Hawk, Bethany Heinrich, Tia James, Kelsey Kurz, Brian Macdonald, Alexander Maier, Dorien Makhloghi and Joe Short.
For more information about Shakespeare in the Park, please visit www.publictheater.org
Photo credit: Jan Marcus
Photos, from top:
Linda Emond, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Jesse L. Martin
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Byron Jennings and Jesse L. Martin
Ruben Santiago-Hudson (foreground), Nyambi Nyambi, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and Bill Heck
Heather Lind and Francois Battiste
Max Wright and Jesse Tyler Ferguson
